Jamie Conlan on the retirement conundrum facing boxing brother Michael

Jamie Conlan admits calling time on his boxing career was an "easy decision" - unlike the turmoil his younger brother Michael has gone through.

The 37-year-old lost to Jerwin Ancajas in a one-sided World title clash back in 2017, while the arrival of his first child offered him a new perspective on life.

That Ancajas defeat would be his last hurrah in a boxing ring, with the affectionately known 'Mexican' riding off to the sunset without any emotional farewell.

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For younger brother Michael, however, the waters are less clear. Reeling from back-to-back stoppage losses to Luis Alberto Lopez and Jordan Gill, the younger Conlan was expected to follow Jamie into retirement.

But six months on from that shock Gill defeat, he is planning one final comeback.

"Michael is his own man. He is currently playing golf in Portugal, but we will get a good yarn next week when he's home. But he is coming back," Jamie said.

"He is doing a bit of training next week in London and Liverpool and a few other places. So he will be busy and back training to see how he feels.

"He has been keeping busy with his beer brand, running marathons and now he has taken himself on a golfing/training holiday in Portugal. He is still terrible at golf.

"He has gone through a lot this past year, so he needs to ease back into it before having another big fight. He could return before Christmas."

Jamie's defeat to Ancajas was his first and only loss as a professional. The former super-flyweight thrilled fans with his cavaliering style inside the ring, with his 20-fight career punctuated by bloody brawls and brutal battles.

Michael, 32, has fought 21 times in the paid ranks since making his debut at Madison Square Garden back on St Patrick's Day, 2017. Walking him to the ring that night was none other than Conor McGregor.

All three of his defeats have come in his last five fights, including a devastating final-round knockout to Leigh Wood which saw the Belfast boxer miss out on a World title in the cruellest of endings.

Despite those recent failings, Conlan has unfinished business in the ring.

When I retired it was easy, but every boxer is different. If you come up close like Michael did (to a world title) you will always be chasing that dragon," Jamie said.

"If you have the talent and commercial value that Michael has, it is always going to be difficult to walk away without achieving your dream. He was so close against Leigh Wood, and that still stings.

"For me it was easy. Our first baby arrived and I knew I wasn't going to be world champion, so I thought 'what the f*** am I going to continue for?'. That's exactly how I felt.

"I never had the talent that Michael has, or the opportunities that he has had. And he knows what it takes to get to that level, and now he wants to go again."

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